The Vikings signed Greg Jennings to a five-year, $45 million contract in March. They used the 29th pick in the NFL draft on Cordarrelle Patterson in April. But two other receivers who were with the team last year are hoping they're healthy enough to fit into the team's plans this fall.

Jerome Simpson, who is back on a one-year deal with the Vikings after a disappointing 2012 season, said Wednesday, May 1, that he is completely healed from a pinched nerve in his lower back that sapped his ability to push off last season. And Greg Childs, who tore tendons in both knees last season, is running routes in the team's offseason workouts while hoping he'll return to practice sometime this year.

"I'm always trying to get on the field as soon as I can," Childs said. "But also when I get back, everyone down here, including myself, wants to make sure I'm 100 percent. No sense coming back 80, 90 percent. That's not really going to help the team out. And that's what we're trying to do now: Get me back on the field so I can help the team."

Simpson, who caught 26 passes without a touchdown last season, said he had to stay off his feet for a month and a half after the season to let his back heal.

He bought a Tempur-Pedic mattress for his bed, spent time visiting his family and playing with his dogs and stewed while doctors told him to refrain from working out.

"I hated it," Simpson said, "but I had to do what was best for me and what was going to get me back up to 100 percent.

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Both receivers could have trouble carving out major roles for themselves in the offense with Jennings and Patterson joining Jarius Wright, who earned Christian Ponder's trust at the end of last season. There's also tight ends Kyle Rudolph and John Carlson, and the offense will be predicated on Adrian Peterson as long as the running back is healthy.

But they are both in town for offseason workouts, trying to begin their respective cases -- Childs hoping he can come back and get his NFL career started after injuries wiped out his rookie year, and Simpson trying to show the Vikings they made the right decision by trusting him enough to bring him back.

"I want to be the best I can for these guys because I felt like I let myself down and them down a little bit last year," Simpson said. "It was something I couldn't really control. I'm going to go my hardest I can this year, and hopefully I can get a long-term contract this year."